[pct-l] Clover Fire Detour- a BAD idea

[Halfmile]

Ken,

Thanks for the information about the trail. I have decided to remove
the detour map from http://www.pctmap.net

If anyone still wants the map after reading all of this, they can email me.

-Halfmile


On Tue, Jun 3, 2008 at 9:15 AM,  <kmurray at pol.net> wrote:
> Halfmile said:
> "I was going to wait until I had more information but after reading
> POD's  journal on Postholer ( http://postholer.com/missdarkness ) I
> have decided to create a Clover Fire possible detour map in case some
> hikers find it useful.
>
> I have not hiked these trails (other than the PCT) and have no idea
> what the detour might be like.
>
> The possible detour would be:
>
> About 1.2 miles S of Kennedy Meadows Campground take dirt road E to
> the trail to Wildrose Meadow.
>
> Continue past Wildrose Meadow to Dutch John Flat.
>
> At Dutch John Flat take Haiwee Trail W back to PCT. You should join
> the PCT about 2.5 miles N of Clover Meadow (where the fire probably
> is).
>
> A printable map showing the detour area is here:
>
> www.pctmap.net/pctdownloads/clover_detour.pdf
>
> If anyone has any better suggestions let me know.
>
> Good luck.
>
> -Halfmile"
>
> This is a BAD idea.  I am familiar with this route.  This requires a ford
> of the Kern River, in a place where it is quite steep.  This is often a
> raging inferno during snowmelt, which it now is.  If one gets across, then
> you are in the area of the fire.  There is a tremendous amount of very
> dry, burnable stuff in the area, this area is long overdue for a burn.
> Thus, the fire could easily get going in this exact direction, and a
> person could get trapped between the fire and the river.
>
> Also, going north on the PCT here is a BAD idea.  I've done this exact
> backpack each summer for the last ten years, usually camping just short of
> Clover Meadows.  The trail runs up canyons, with steep canyon on either
> side.  It would be very tough to cross-country this area, with the
> predominant whitethorn and manzanita scrub brush dominating.  There would
> be no "bail-outs", if the fire turned towards you, and the wind IS
> predicted to be coming up today.
>
> Far, Far better to bypass this section.
>
> Alternatively, there ARE alternative trails about 10 miles to the west,
> staging out of "Blackrock" trailhead, plus there is an open USFS ranger
> station at that location.   One could get the appropriate map (Tom
> Harrison Golden Trout Wilderness) at the Store, catch a ride to Blackrock,
> and head north from there.  The trails end up merging with the PCT up in
> the Trail Pass or Cottonwood Pass area.
>
> Good luck to everyone.
>
> Ken
>
>
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